Assupol TuksCricket player, Craig Kirsten, joined the Club at the start of the year after leaving the Dolphins to come and complete his postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria. Craig enrolled for a BCom (Hons) Degree in Taxation while he played for Assupol TuksCricket.

He started his cricket journey at Tuks very quickly and became a pillar in the Assupol Tuks 1 team since his first tournament in January at the Varsity Cricket week in Potchefstroom. The fast bowler had his ups and downs during the year thanks to a back injury but made his come back in time for the USSA A Cricket Week where he played a big role as a senior player in the team’s victory both on and off the field and was named Man of the Match in the final.
 

But the time has now come for Craig to hang up his boots and exchange the cricket field for an office. After completing his postgraduate studies this year, Craig was offered a position at BDO in Johannesburg where he will start work in January.
 

Speaking about his time at Tuks and his future away from cricket he said, “ ‘It’s better to burn out than to fade away’, these were words from our coach, Kruger van Wyk, that I tried to live by during my time at Tuks.

After my contract at the Dolphins was terminated in 2016, I came to Tuks with a desire to reignite my passion for cricket and to complete my studies. My goal was always to give cricket one more go and I see if I could make a breakthrough but my injuries never helped my progress.
 

However, moving to Assupol TuksCricket was the best move I could’ve made. The coaching, management and facilities are second to none and the professionalism and attention to detail from all involved in the Club is the best I’ve experience in my short career and I wish I had come to Tuks earlier. Winning USSA and our performance at Varsity Cricket were the highlights of my career, for sure.
 

I must make a special mention to Coaches Kruger, Chris and Curtly for the enormous effort they put in on a daily basis to accommodate my training as well as my studies. Also, to Blanche with her never ending help with studies and administration; without her I definitely wouldn’t have finished my studies so smoothly.
 

Next year I begin a new journey into the business world. I’m both excited and nervous but one thing is for certain, the brotherhood and values instilled in me at Tuks will always be in my mind and heart as I leave this great institution and venture out into the world. I would like to thank everyone involved at Tuks for the memories that I will cherish forever.”
 

Even though Craig was just with Tuks for a short time, he will definitely be missed by all at Assupol TuksCricket. We would like to wish him all the best going forward and we know that he will make a success of everything he does.